AMD Ryzen 5 5600U vs Intel Xeon W-2133 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results for the Intel Xeon W-2133 and AMD Ryzen 5 5600U tell a story of two very different performance profiles. The most striking finding is the split decision across Cinebench versions, with each processor dominating one multi-core test and one single-core test.

In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U scores 1321 against the Intel Xeon W-2133's 1075, giving the AMD part an 18.6% advantage. The single-core R15 result is even more lopsided: the Ryzen 5 5600U posts 223 versus 151 for the Xeon, a 32.3% lead. These are substantial margins, and they reflect the architectural efficiency of AMD's Zen 3 design in older, latency-sensitive workloads.

Flip to Cinebench R23, and the tables turn dramatically. The Intel Xeon W-2133 scores 10676 in multi-core, while the Ryzen 5 5600U manages 7792.5 — a 37% win for Intel. In R23 single-core, the Xeon takes 1507 against 1371 for the AMD chip, a 9.9% edge. This reversal suggests that the newer R23 workload scales better with the Xeon's higher power envelope and memory bandwidth, while R15 rewards the Ryzen's faster per-core clock speeds and lower latency.

The overall average benchmark scores are nearly identical: the Xeon W-2133 averages 3087, and the Ryzen 5 5600U averages 3053. Both processors sit at the 52nd percentile among all CPUs, meaning they land squarely in the middle of the performance distribution. The nearest rivals confirm this parity — the Xeon's closest competitor is the Intel Core i7-8700B at 3086 (0% delta), while the Ryzen's nearest is the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 7330U at 3063 (-0.3% delta).

Worth noting is that the head-to-head data includes only four Cinebench tests, while the Ryzen 5 5600U also has Geekbench scores (6043 multi-core, 1567 single-core) that have no direct Xeon counterpart in the pack. The Xeon's Cinebench R20 scores (4483 multi-core, 632 single-core) similarly lack a Ryzen comparison. The two wins each in the shared tests underscore how workload choice determines the winner.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U wins decisively in Cinebench R15, both multi-core and single-core. The 32.3% single-core margin is the largest of any shared benchmark. This indicates the Ryzen excels in older software that relies on high per-thread performance with minimal scaling overhead. The 1321 R15 multi-core score also shows that even in multi-threaded R15, the Ryzen's 4.20 GHz boost clock and Zen 3 IPC overcome the Xeon's higher base clock of 3.60 GHz.

The Intel Xeon W-2133 wins in Cinebench R23, with a 37% multi-core advantage that dwarfs the Ryzen's R15 multi-core win. The R23 single-core margin of 9.9% is smaller but still definitive. The Xeon's 8.25 MB shared L3 cache and quad-channel memory bus likely contribute to its R23 performance, as this workload stresses sustained throughput rather than burst responsiveness.

For the Ryzen, the presence of integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics means it can handle display output without a discrete GPU — a feature entirely absent from the Xeon. The Ryzen also has a 16 MB shared L3 cache, double the Xeon's 8.25 MB, which benefits workloads with reusable data sets.

For the Xeon, the quad-channel memory bus provides 85.3 GB/s of bandwidth versus the Ryzen's dual-channel 51.2 GB/s. That 34.1 GB/s gap matters for memory-bound tasks. The Xeon also supports ECC memory, while the Ryzen does not, making the Intel part suitable for error-sensitive computing.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload generation and platform requirements. If you are running Cinebench R15 or similar older benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U is the pick — its 223 single-core and 1321 multi-core scores beat the Xeon by 32.3% and 18.6%, respectively. The Ryzen also brings integrated graphics and a 7 nm process node, making it far more power-efficient at 15 W TDP versus the Xeon's 140 W.

If your work involves Cinebench R23 or newer multi-threaded applications, the Intel Xeon W-2133 is the stronger choice. Its 10676 multi-core score is 37% ahead of the Ryzen, and the 1507 single-core score edges out the Ryzen's 1371 by 9.9%. The Xeon's quad-channel memory and ECC support also make it more suitable for workstation-class reliability.

The average benchmark scores are effectively tied — 3087 for Intel versus 3053 for AMD — so neither chip is categorically faster. The decision hinges on which benchmark generation you trust and which platform features you need. For a mobile or low-power system, the Ryzen 5 5600U is the only logical option given its 15 W TDP and FP6 socket. For a server or workstation chassis with a 2066 socket and 140 W cooling, the Xeon W-2133 offers the multi-core muscle and memory bandwidth.

Both processors have 6 cores and 12 threads, so core count is not a differentiator. The Ryzen's active production status and 2021 release date contrast with the Xeon's end-of-life status and 2017 launch. The Xeon's launch MSRP is $617, but no pricing is available for the Ryzen in the data.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher single-core score in Cinebench R15?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U scores 223 versus 151 for the Intel Xeon W-2133, a 32.3% advantage for AMD.

Q: How much faster is the Intel Xeon W-2133 in Cinebench R23 multi-core?

A: The Xeon scores 10676 against the Ryzen's 7792.5, giving Intel a 37% lead in that test.

Q: Do both processors have the same core and thread counts?

A: Yes, both have 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Xeon W-2133 averages 3087, while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U averages 3053, a difference of 34 points.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 5600U support ECC memory?

A: No, the Ryzen 5 5600U does not support ECC memory, while the Intel Xeon W-2133 does.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has Radeon Vega 7 integrated graphics; the Intel Xeon W-2133 has no integrated graphics.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W-2133 uses the Skylake architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel. It has a die size of 484 mm². The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U uses Zen 3 architecture on a 7 nm process node, manufactured by TSMC, with a die size of 180 mm² and 10,700 million transistors.

Cache hierarchies differ notably. Both have 64 KB of L1 cache per core. The Xeon has 1 MB of L2 cache per core, while the Ryzen has 512 KB per core. The L3 cache is where AMD takes the lead: the Ryzen has 16 MB shared, versus 8.25 MB shared on the Xeon.

Memory support is another major split. The Xeon uses quad-channel DDR4 with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth, while the Ryzen uses dual-channel DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC memory; the Ryzen does not. PCIe connectivity also differs: the Xeon provides Gen 3 with 48 lanes (CPU only), while the Ryzen provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only).

The integrated graphics situation is one-sided. The Ryzen 5 5600U includes Radeon Vega 7, while the Xeon has no integrated graphics at all. The Xeon targets the server/workstation market segment, whereas the Ryzen targets mobile. The Xeon's architecture is Skylake-W, and the Ryzen's is Cezanne-U (Zen 3).

Specification Differences

The Intel Xeon W-2133 has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 3.90 GHz. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600U has a base clock of 2.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. The Xeon's TDP is 140 W; the Ryzen's is 15 W.

The Xeon uses Intel Socket 2066, while the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP6. The Xeon's process node is 14 nm from Intel; the Ryzen's is 7 nm from TSMC. The Xeon's die size is 484 mm², and the Ryzen's is 180 mm². The Ryzen has 10,700 million transistors; the Xeon's transistor count is not specified.

The Xeon has 1 MB L2 cache per core, while the Ryzen has 512 KB per core. The Xeon's L3 cache is 8.25 MB shared; the Ryzen's is 16 MB shared. The Xeon's memory bus is quad-channel with 85.3 GB/s bandwidth; the Ryzen's is dual-channel with 51.2 GB/s. The Xeon supports ECC; the Ryzen does not.

The Xeon provides Gen 3 PCIe with 48 lanes (CPU only); the Ryzen provides Gen 3 with 8 lanes (CPU only). The Xeon has no integrated graphics; the Ryzen has Radeon Vega 7. The Xeon is end-of-life, released on 2017-08-28, with a launch MSRP of $617. The Ryzen is active, released on 2021-01-11, with no launch MSRP specified. Neither processor has an unlocked multiplier.